Never mind Fight Club.
The first rule of writing a successful TV drama is building connection. Viewers have to feel they identify with at least one character, good or bad, right or wrong. Otherwise, why bother?
There is irony here. In S01, I was on the side defending a complex show which most people (and most professional reviewers) found too troublesome to invest time in.
No, I said. There is enormous talent here. And the premise is clever. Give it time. Have faith.
Now halfway in the middle of S02:
1. Faith no longer seems warranted. The writing team has broken the first Rule of Drama -- they have removed all connection. There is not one single character here a viewer can identify with. They all seem horribly damaged and do odd things. Watching Perlman's character overdose on a pill he was warned about is just rubbing it in, almost an inside joke to which the audience is not privy. As a judge getting advice from his dead some about a crime, in S01 he was the moral center of the show. In S02, he is just annoying.
2. Amazon finally got the memo. Just found out the show was cancelled, this is the last season and the last chance the writers have to wrap up the story. But whatever the finale, it will be too little too late.
The first rule of writing a successful TV drama is building connection. Viewers have to feel they identify with at least one character, good or bad, right or wrong. Otherwise, why bother?
There is irony here. In S01, I was on the side defending a complex show which most people (and most professional reviewers) found too troublesome to invest time in.
No, I said. There is enormous talent here. And the premise is clever. Give it time. Have faith.
Now halfway in the middle of S02:
1. Faith no longer seems warranted. The writing team has broken the first Rule of Drama -- they have removed all connection. There is not one single character here a viewer can identify with. They all seem horribly damaged and do odd things. Watching Perlman's character overdose on a pill he was warned about is just rubbing it in, almost an inside joke to which the audience is not privy. As a judge getting advice from his dead some about a crime, in S01 he was the moral center of the show. In S02, he is just annoying.
2. Amazon finally got the memo. Just found out the show was cancelled, this is the last season and the last chance the writers have to wrap up the story. But whatever the finale, it will be too little too late.
